Niusheh Soofi Afshar
Marziye Bakhtar
Parvin Aghamohammadhasani
Mohsen Rezaeian

Background: Suicide is an intentional self-harm behavior leading to death that is more common in young people aged ۱۵-۲۴ years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of suicidal thoughts and planning for suicide among medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all ۳۰۰ Entrance ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۱۳ medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences were included by census sampling. Among them, only ۲۶۵ students (۸۸%) agreed to participate in this study. Data were collected by using Beck standard suicide questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by using descriptive and analytical statistics like Chi-square and Fisher&#۳۹;s exact tests. Results: The participants included ۱۲۶ male and ۱۳۹ female medical students. Among them, ۷۵.۸۴% had no suicidal thoughts, ۱۸.۱۱% had suicidal thoughts, ۴.۱۵% were susceptible for committing suicide and ۱.۸۸% had a plan for suicide attempt. There was a significant relationship between suicidal thoughts and gender (P=۰.۰۱۷), living area (P=۰.۰۲۶), history of chronic disease (P=۰.۰۴۲), history of mental disorder (P=۰.۰۰۲), and smoking (P=۰.۰۴۹). Conclusion: The results show that the risk of suicide is high in medical students. Therefore, preventive strategies should be performed for preventing suicidal thoughts and committing suicide.

Suicide, Medical students, Suicidal Thoughts, Committing Suicide, Rafsanjan